Defence Ministry permits acquisition of MiG-29s, Sukhois under Rs 38,900 crore plan

New Delhi, July 03: To increase the fighter squadrons of Indian Air Force (IAF), the Defence Ministry cleared the proposal for procurement of 21 MIG-29 along with up-gradation of existing 59 MIG-29 aircraft and procurement of 12 Su-30 MKI aircraft. This proposal was approved along with others, tallying up to an estimated cost of Rs 38,900 crore plan, at the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

 

 

 

"While the MIG 29 procurement and upgradation from Russia is estimated to cost Rs 7,418 crore, the Su-30 MKI will be procured from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at an estimated cost of Rs 10,730 crore," the statement read.

 

The DAC also approved the indigenous design and development proposals — worth over Rs 20,400 crore includes Pinaka ammunitions, BMP armament upgrades and software-defined radios for the Indian Army, Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile Systems and Astra Missiles for the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force (IAF). A large number of these projects have been made possible due to Transfer of Technology (ToT) by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to the indigenous industry.

 

The Ministry is batting for 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' in the midst of the continuing tensions on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and needs to strengthen the Indian Armed Forces indigenously. "In the current situation and the need to strengthen the Armed Forces for the defence of our borders and in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in its meeting of today held under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accorded approval for the capital acquisition of various platforms and equipment required by the Indian Armed Forces. Proposals for an approximate cost of Rs 38,900 crore were approved," it stated.

 

The acquisition of Pinaka missile systems will enable raising additional regiments over and above the ones already inducted. In addition, the Long Range Land Attack Missile Systems having a firing range of 1,000 kilometres to the existing arsenal will bolster the attack capabilities of the Navy and the Air Force. Similarly, induction of Astra Missiles having Beyond Visual Range capability will serve as a force multiplier and immensely add to the strike capability of the Navy and Air Force. The procurement of new/additional missile systems will boost all the three Services.

 

Further, it added that the proposals approved were focused on indigenous design and development that included acquisitions from Indian industry of Rs 31,130 crore. The equipment needed to develop will be manufactured in India involving the Indian defence industry with the participation of several MSMEs as prime-tier vendors. The indigenous content in some of these projects is up to 80 per cent of the project cost